Ham Shoot raises money for Torrington Elks Lodge fishing derby

A man was targeting the range in the ham shoot.
Shako Liu-The Register Citizen

TORRINGTON>> Dazzling sunlight shimmered onto the Elks Pond and hung a rainbow over the woods. The mountain just started to wake up from a long winter. Chunks of ice were floating on the water rippled by the soft breeze.

“Bang!”

A loud gunshot broke the silence. Men’s laughters ensued. Children playing at the pond didn’t look back, but kept throwing stones into the water. Women were making a campfire to keep warm. Some of them went ahead to compete with the men on the range.

It was the annual spring ham shoot hosted by the Torrington Elks Lodge #372 at the Elks Pond. Proceeds will go to purchase fish to put in the pond for Children’s Fishing Derby, the first Sunday in May, said Richard Oakley, organizer of the event. They have a turkey shoot in the fall as well.

“Fish are expensive, so that’s what we will do with the money,” Oakley said.

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Oakley’s son was the shooting instructor. They brought several house guns and all the bullets, 20-gauge shotguns, to be exact. Thirteen rounds were counted. Winners would get a certificate, said Oakley.

The money raised at the ham shoot will be also used to buy toys for children who win at the Fishing Derby. It has been about 22 years for Oakley to run the events. He joked he was getting tired.

“I am glad that people show up and buy the fish for the pond,” Oakley said.

About the Author

Shako Liu covers the towns of Litchfield, Warren, Goshen and Morris for The Register Citizen and Litchfield County Times. Reach the author at sliu@registercitizen.com
or follow Shako on Twitter: shako_liu.